A fter years of pressure from aboriginal communities, family members, advocates, human rights groups and frontline workers, the federal government finally announced details of the long-awaited inquiry into missing and murdered indigenous women and girls.
It’s well positioned with B.C.’s first female First Nations judge Marion Buller at its helm, a $53.8-million budget and reasonable leeway when it comes to who it interviews or summons as witnesses and what documents it can request. It will also examine the roles of institutions, including the coroners’ offices, governments and police forces – a key issue in getting to the systemic roots of the issue.
Once the commission completes its mandate, it will make recommendations aimed at eliminating or reducing the disproportionate levels of violence suffered by aboriginal women and girls. It’s an immense task and the commission has a big job ahead of it. But it will be up to the provinces to put the recommendations into practice.
Will change truly happen if it’s voluntary? The coalition on missing and murdered indigenous women and girls, a group initially formed in response to B.C.’s Missing Women Commission of Inquiry, released a statement Wednesday sounding the alarm on “gaps in the framework that stand to undermine the good intentions that have led to the formation of the inquiry.”
We would argue, along with some First Nations leaders, not to let perfect stand in the way of good. But meaningful change takes political will too.
When the commission releases its recommendations, we will call for accompanying action. So should you.
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